2022 GS Trophy: At last – prep day!

4 September 2022 Louise Powers 911 Views GS Trophy

After a ridiculous number of travel hours and four different flights, Ben Phaup landed in Tirana, Albania, around 3:00 AM local time Saturday morning alongside Women’s Team France. Following a few hours of rest, they were whisked off to join their teammates at base camp for Prep Day.

*Competitors in the 2022 GS Trophy are using BMW’s flagship R 1250 GS. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad.*

The day before each GS Trophy competition begins with a bang as competitors get to see, sit on, embrace and even kiss their competition bikes for the first time. Each bike has beautiful graphics created just for the event, but the crown jewel is the graphic bearing the rider’s name, country and flag. There is no accurate way to describe the feelings of pride and excitement in seeing a brand-new R 1250 GS with three kilometers on the odometer and your name; it is an incredible experience, compounded by the fact that nearly 60 other people are feeling the exact same thing mere meters from you.

*GS Trophy competitors – including Lilla from Team Germany – often form emotional attachments to their competition bikes. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad.*

There is a certain amount of celebrating with the new machines allowed before teams are divided up—two teams to a marshal—and led around to various stations to prep for competition. One of the most important parts of prep day is making sure the bikes are properly adjusted for each rider. Adjustments such as rolling up handlebars—which can be made with simple tools—are allowed to each rider’s preference, and event mechanics set out to assist and offer tools to competitors. From there, riders will install communication systems in helmets, meet with the event doctors, have Leatt braces properly fitted and more. Any paperwork previously left unfinished must get taken care of today, as the competition begins tomorrow!

*BMW Motorrad Brand Ambassador Shawn Thomas getting fitted for his Leatt neck brace.*

Towards the end of the day, the teams each had a little time to relax before heading to the beach for a whole team picture, dinner and a show. Local performers entertained the international crowd with traditional Albanian dance. At the end of the performance, competitors were invited to join in and Cory Call hopped right up to show off his California moves.

*Team USA competitor Cory Call joins Albanians in traditional dress for a California-meets-Eastern-Europe dance session.*

Once the evening’s festivities concluded, the competitors headed to their tents for what might well be their last full night of sleep before the 2022 International GS trophy gets underway. Excitement and no small amount of anxiety can be felt in the air; in past years, riders have mentioned this is a night of fitful sleep.

The competition kicks off on Sunday, September 4. We’ll get a look at what kind of terrain these riders are facing and see what the first Special Challenges are. Be sure to follow the BMW Motorrad Facebook and Instagram (@BMWMotorrad) pages, as there will be LIVE broadcasts of the Special Challenges. Show your support for Ben, Cory, and Jim Duplease by tuning in during these challenges, as this is how they win points. A little birdie has informed me the first Special Challenge will happen around lunchtime tomorrow, so get up early and cheer for our guys!